International House to Honor Leaders in Cross Cultural and International Understanding at 2018 Awards Gala

New York, NY  March 6, 2018 — International House, a leadership and cultural exchange program for international students, will host its 2018 Annual Awards Gala in New York City on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. This year’s awardees, as in past galas, are leaders in promoting cross-cultural and international understanding: one of Hong Kong’s and China’s top investors, property developers and philanthropists, Ronnie C. Chan, Chairman of Hang Lung Properties; entrepreneur and food expert Ariane Daguin, CEO of D’Artagnan Foods; Candice Morgan, Head of Inclusion and Diversity at Pinterest; The O’Neill Family, philanthropic leaders and champions of international education; and posthumously, Tatsuro Toyoda, a business pioneer and former Toyota Motor Corp. president. “Our honorees’ commitment to cross-cultural understanding, global leadership and public service is truly exceptional,” said Calvin Sims, President & CEO of International House. “Their professional and personal lives exemplify the spirit of International House and our mission of building global leaders who embrace respect, empathy and moral courage.” Ms. Daguin and Mr. Toyoda lived at International House while pursuing their graduate degrees in New York City. The Annual Awards Gala, to be held at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center, will draw over 200 influential and rising leaders from various industries who share International House’s commitment to multicultural understanding and bringing people together across national and cultural lines. The event’s guests will enjoy a cocktail reception with breathtaking views of Manhattan followed by dinner, video highlights of the honorees, the awards presentation, a live band and musical performances by International House residents, and the company of young adults from all over the world who have benefited from International House. An After-Party will feature a live band and an open bar. About the Honorees Ronnie C. Chan is Chairman of Hang Lung Group and its subsidiary Hang Lung Properties.  He founded and chairs the China Heritage Fund.  Mr. Chan is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Chairman Emeritus of Asia Society and Chairman of its Hong Kong Center.  He serves or has served on the governing or advisory bodies of several think tanks and universities, including Peterson Institute for International Economics, World Economic Forum, East-West Center, Pacific Council on International Policy, Eisenhower Fellowships, University of Southern California, Indian School of Business, Yale University, Tsinghua University, and Fudan University. Ariane Daguin is the owner and founder of D’Artagnan, the renowned gourmet food purveyor, as well as a cookbook author and food expert. A devoted advocate for natural, sustainable and humane production, Ms. Daguin is founding president of Les Nouvelles Mères Cuisinières, an international association of prestigious women chefs. She is on the board of City Harvest, and active in The American Institute of Wine & Food and Women Chefs and Restaurateurs. In 2005, Ms. Daquin received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Bon Appetit Magazine, and in September 2006, she was awarded the French Legion d’Honneur. Ms. Daguin lived at International House as a graduate student at Columbia University.   Candice Morgan is the Head of Inclusion and Diversity at Pinterest, where she leads efforts to build a more inclusive and diverse global company. Previously, Candice spent nearly 10 years at Catalyst, where she built inclusive work cultures by designing and implementing strategic talent initiatives for global companies and firms across a range of industries including finance, consumer goods, technology, healthcare and more. Candice holds an MS in cross-cultural psychology from Brunel University and a BS in psychology from Carnegie Mellon University. The O’Neill Family’s leadership, wisdom and generosity has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of young women and men from all over the world for close to six decades.  The late Abby O’Neill served as an International House Trustee and later Honorary Trustee from 1958 until her death in 2017, providing extraordinary leadership in advancing International House’s mission. Mrs. O’Neill’s uncle, David Rockefeller, as well as Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller, III, Peggy Rockefeller also served as International House Trustees. Peter O’Neill, a Trustee since 1997 and former International House resident, is chair of the Board’s Executive Committee. Tatsuro Toyoda, to be honored posthumously, served as president of Toyota Motor Corp. and led the company’s climb to become one of the world’s top automakers. Among his landmark accomplishments was establishing a California joint venture with General Motors called NUMMI, or New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., which was heralded as a pioneer in international collaborations in the industry.  Mr. Toyoda served as NUMMI’s first president, and is known for his efforts to bring together Toyota’s corporate culture of super-efficiency, teamwork and empowering workers with American culture, including introducing a new style of labor-management relations. Mr. Toyoda lived at International House from 1956 to1958 while he pursued an MBA at New York University. About International House  Founded in 1924, International House is a dynamic residence, cultural, and leadership training center for 700 graduate students and interns from over 100 countries, including the United States.  International House’s programs and its daily multicultural living experience exposes these young adults to diverse cultures, ideas and beliefs. International House’s mission is to challenge young women and men from all over the world to become the next generation of global leaders by building qualities of respect, empathy and moral courage as members of a diverse, lifelong community. To purchase tickets to the Annual Awards Gala please visit: https://ihouse.hybriddc.com/news_events/2018gala/. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities please contact Emily Wakeling, Vice President, Development, Alumni Relations  & Communications at ewakeling@ihouse-nyc.org or 212-316-8440. Media Contact For more information, please contact Emily Wakeling, Vice President, Development, Alumni Relations & Communications at ewakeling@ihouse-nyc.org or 212-316-8440.